As he addresses the thorny topic of Aston Villa fans calling for Steve Bruce’s head just a week or so ago, you get the sense that there is a little empathy involved for Mark Warburton.

The slight sense of unrest and frustration at Nottingham Forest, following defeats against Wolves and Chelsea, has been nothing like the uproar across the West Midlands where, prior to Villa’s 3-0 win at Barnsley last weekend, there had been serious calls from fans for Bruce to be replaced, just weeks into the new season.

A return of seven points from seven Championship games would, even just a few years ago, have been regarded as a slightly stuttering start, rather than a reason for panic. But in a football world where social media has a bigger influence than ever before, at Villa, dark clouds were starting to gather among supporters.

There was one sacking in the second city last weekend, as Birmingham dispensed with the services of Harry Redknapp, just 13 games into his tenure at St Andrew’s. But victory over Barnsley silenced Bruce’s critics, for now at least, ahead of Forest’s visit to Villa Park this weekend – and gave Bruce himself the room to call for some stability at the club.

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“All of a sudden now the pressure comes from the media, social media, and it’s part and parcel. I’m under no illusion, it’s seven points from seven games and it isn’t good enough but sometimes you’ve got to see the bigger picture,” said Bruce at Oakwell.

Villa manager Steve Bruce (Image: Getty)

“Whether it’s me or another manager, somebody has got to manage the club for the next three or four years. I hope it’s myself - that’s what it needs. It doesn’t need continual change because you get no continuity. I’ve done it before so I’m sure I can do it again.”

Incredibly, given that Forest – who escaped relegation on goal difference a few months ago - could climb back into the top six with a win in the West Midlands, there have been one or two isolated individuals on social media suggesting Warburton’s job should be in peril as well.

Given the five seasons of turmoil at the City Ground prior to this, the majority of Reds fans will still understand the value of patience, stability and planning – and will see that significant progress is being made, on and off the field.

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Sacking managers on a whim has to be a thing of the past, as a new era begins.

But it is easy to understand why Warburton has plenty of sympathy for one of his peers, as they prepare to go head-to-head at Villa Park.

“I have read some of the criticism there, which is ludicrous. I saw Steve’s comments after their victory at Barnsley and I fully understand where he is coming from,” said Warburton. “It is so early in the season. It is a big club and players come in and take time to gel and settle.

“It is what it is now, when it come to the demands. But the one commodity you need is time. I sense Steve’s frustration on that front and rightly so.

Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton

“We know they are a team that is starting to gel; as are we. All teams are the same, all teams are welcoming in new players and gelling squads together.

“All teams are dealing with passionate fans who have high expectations at this time of year. It is part and parcel of the game. But the one commodity you do need is time, undoubtedly.

“It is the same everywhere, if you are top of the Premier League, you still need time for the same reasons. Some players take months to settle at a new club. It is a tough process. But the time aspect is giving everyone at the club time to gel everything together.

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“It is passion. It is why we all love the game, because of that passion. We all look forward to match day and we understand fans have that passion. The media exposure for clubs is growing day by day and you have to deal with the demands and expectations that come with that.”

On the pitch Forest will head to Villa looking to replicate the kind of grit and determination that helped them to secure victory in their last Championship away game, at Sunderland – while also adding a little more attacking verve to the mix.

“Villa are a good team, but we have to go there and deliver a performance. They are one of the big teams in the division,” said Warburton, who believes the defeat at Chelsea will be a motivation, rather than a weight around their shoulders.

“They have an outstanding stadium and a great history. This will be two big clubs who have that, facing off together and we are looking forward to it.

“We know it will be a tough encounter. They have some very good individual players, but we look forward to the challenge.

“It was a night of disappointment, frustration and anger at Chelsea, but these are professional players and they lost a game of football. All the emotions were there that you might imagine. But you have to move on, because the games come thick and fast.

“They are professionals who have played at very high levels. They know the game. Every game of football you go into, you want to win. All those emotions – they are there because you want to win.

“We lost a game but we have to move on because the games come thick and fast, there is no time to sit and feel sorry for yourself. You have to respond and the best way to do that is to deliver a good performance.

“It is not about whether the players find it easy to put the game behind them – they simply have to do that. They have to, because we cannot go to a place like Villa worrying about a game that has already happened.

“We will learn from what happened at Chelsea, but we will not feel sorry for ourselves.”

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Bruce has confirmed that Henri Lansbury will not be involved against his former club after suffering a knee injury in their midweek defeat to Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.

It will be a blow to the midfielder, who had successfully appealed a red card collected against Middlesbrough in the Championship earlier in the month, but will now miss the game anyway.

Henri Lansbury was sent off for Aston Villa against Middlesbrough (Image: Getty)

But Warburton says Forest will be prepared for whatever team Villa do field.

“You have to look at what team they put out; at how they will play. We think we know their formation and we think we can predict the bulk of their team,” he said. “You have to adapt and make sure you have done your preparation, to make sure you are ready for whatever they throw at you.

“They have a number of very talented players, without doubt. But so do we. We are a very high quality team.

“It is too early to talk about trends. We have had good performances and we have had mixed performances. We know where we have to improve – we have to stop giving away soft goals.

“We had lots of good play at Chelsea – but we lost 5-1. We know that is not acceptable. We know where we need to improve.”

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Warburton says he will not judge any of his players too harshly for their performance at Chelsea – but particularly not goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who was making his first senior start on his return from a serious Achilles injury.

“Don’t forget these (Chelsea) guys have played an elite level of football. Of all the hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy playing football around the country – these are elite professionals,” said Warburton.

“When you are out for four or five months, it does take time. Very often you can think you are ready, because you are so desperate to get back. But it does take time to adapt to the pace of the game.

Stephen Henderson (Image: Dan Westwell)

“Your match sharpness, your decision making – all of that comes with playing football. And that applies to all players, I am not just talking about Stephen. It just takes time.”

Forest have, in recent years, struggled to produce their best consistently in front of the television cameras, but Warburton has few concerns about Sky being in town for tomorrow’s game.

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“It won’t influence them at all. They are professional players and even the young players are involved in international games,” said Warburton. “Zach Clough has been involved in big games, Kieran Dowell is a Premier League player – they are young players with experience who will get better as they get more.

“We have a good blend of youthful exuberance and experience. Make sure they go into games ready, that is what matters.”